What steps can we take to trust God's plan despite our perceived limitations? Setting the Scene – Jeremiah’s Protest Jeremiah 1:6: “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” Jeremiah’s gut-level reaction mirrors our own: “I’m not old enough, strong enough, gifted enough.” Yet God responds with firm assurance (vv. 7-8). From this brief exchange we can outline practical steps for trusting God when our limitations feel louder than His call. Step 1 – Acknowledge the Limitation, But Hand It Over - Recognize the weakness without dressing it up. - Psalm 51:6 reminds us that God desires truth in the inmost being; honesty is the doorway to help. Step 2 – Listen to God’s Immediate Correction - Jeremiah heard, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ ” (v. 7). - Replace self-labels with God’s labels. - Gideon heard the same redirection: “The LORD is with you, O mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12-16). Step 3 – Trust the Promise of God’s Presence - “For I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:8). - Compare Exodus 4:12 and Matthew 28:20—God’s “with you” spans Old and New Covenants. - Presence, not personal adequacy, is the true qualification. Step 4 – Obey the Next Clear Instruction - God told Jeremiah, “You must go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I command you” (v. 7). - Break obedience into the next step rather than the whole journey. - Psalm 119:105—His Word is “a lamp to my feet,” lighting one step at a time. Step 5 – Draw Strength From God’s Track Record - Remember past rescues: David cited the lion and the bear before facing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:37). - Keep a written record of God’s faithfulness; review it when doubts return. Step 6 – Rely on Supplied Words and Power - “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9). - Luke 12:12 promises the Spirit will teach us what to say. - 2 Corinthians 12:9—His power is perfected in weakness; the weaker the vessel, the clearer the glory. Step 7 – Anticipate Resistance, Expect Deliverance - God warned Jeremiah of opposition yet guaranteed rescue (Jeremiah 1:17-19). - John 16:33—trouble is certain, victory is settled. - Preparing the heart for both keeps discouragement at bay. Step 8 – Speak and Act With Christ-Centered Confidence - Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” - Confidence rooted in Christ guards against arrogance rooted in self. Living Beyond the “I Cannot” Jeremiah moved from “I cannot speak” to decades of fearless prophecy because he shifted his gaze from personal inadequacy to divine sufficiency. The same shift—admitting weakness, receiving assurance, obeying step by step—enables us to trust God’s plan regardless of limitations that once felt insurmountable. |
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